Celebrating 60 years

Durham University Business School

Since opening our doors to students attending our first taught programmes in 1965, our Business School has grown into one of the UK’s leading institutions, consistently recognised for academic rigour, a global outlook, and a commitment to responsible business. Over six decades, we have empowered generations of students to become influential leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers worldwide. The Business School has recently welcomed Professor Kieran Fernandes as Executive Dean, following the retirement of Professor Cathy Cassell. Kieran has been instrumental in securing and extending the Business School’s links to both local and international industry, creating the means for students to learn directly from industry, for CEOs and entrepreneurs to benefit from faculty expertise and to boost innovation and business creation to support wider society. Alongside his role as Executive Dean, Professor Fernandes also serves as Executive Director of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (NELEP) Innovation Observatory, further strengthening ties with business and policy leaders.

A transformative step: The Waterside

In April 2025, Paul Polman – a global business leader, environmentalist and author – officially opened the Waterside building, our new Business School location. With exceptional facilities, Waterside positions the School as a dynamic hub for entrepreneurship, innovation, and knowledge exchange. It is also fittingly home to the School’s Executive Education provision, which includes short courses along with the MBA and DBA programmes. It has already proven to be an attractive conference venue, hosting the inaugural MBA Alumni Conference.

Van Mildert College

At Van Mildert College, we are enjoying celebrating our 60th year in 2025 with current and past students, staff and supporters.

Launching our year of celebration in London

The year of celebration was off to a flying start in January with a drinks and nibbles reception in London, hosted at Killik Stockbrokers in Mayfair. It was great to welcome many of our South East-based alumni, as well as some that had travelled from further afield.

Celebrating at the Norman Tower at Windsor Castle

The second major event in the calendar took place in the splendid setting of the Norman Tower at Windsor Castle, hosted by Lieutenant General Philip Jones, Governor of Windsor Castle and Van Mildert alumnus Mr Graham Barker. The evening provided an opportunity for alumni, friends and supporters of the College to strengthen and renew connections in a stunning and historic setting. During the evening, guests were invited to take a tour of St George’s Chapel and were entertained by world-class dulcimer player and alumnus Dan Evans.

A Gala Reunion Weekend in the Summer

In July, the traditional alumni reunion weekend in Durham is planned to be a glittering gala occasion. There will be a formal dinner in College, where alumnus and Olympian, Jonathan Edwards, will be speaking. There will be student bands, musicians and entertainers from throughout the last 60 fabulous years, as well as lots more activities. To mark the anniversary, there will be a photographic exhibition in College for the Gala Reunion to inspire memories from your time in College – and even the reconstruction of a student bedroom from 1965 – a real trip down Memory Lane for some!

Wrapping up and marking the anniversary pre-Christmas

The year will wrap up with pre-Christmas drinks and nibbles in London, and a “Carols in the Bar” event at the Betjemen Arms at St Pancras, London.

60 years of history

Named after William Van Mildert, the last Prince Bishop of Durham, who was instrumental in founding the University in 1832, Van Mildert College opened its doors in 1965 to 350 male students. Following the expansion of university education in the 1950s and 1960s, and with Durham’s growth boosted even further by its separation from Newcastle University in 1963, four new colleges were added to the existing eight. Along with Van Mildert the other new Colleges were Grey, Trevelyan and Collingwood. In the early 1970s, Van Mildert was the first Durham college to admit female students; with the first formal intake in October 1972; the other colleges soon followed suit. Today, the College is home to almost 1,600 students, with over 500 living-in. The College motto is that of William Van Mildert – sic vos non vobis (“Not for yourselves”) – and in line with this ethos, the students are renowned for their outreach and volunteering activities, and strong community spirit: within and beyond our own walls.

From Graduate Society to Ustinov College

As Ustinov College enters its 60th year, it is a vibrant, international and welcoming scholarly community supporting academic excellence, and is the perfect place for postgraduate students to call home. Founded in 1965 by Durham geography professor, William Bayne Fisher, the Graduate Society’s mission was to help postgraduates with accommodation and build a community where members could meet informally. At this time, the Graduate Society had 94 members: 86 men and eight women. In 2003, the Graduate Society was renamed to mark the end of Sir Peter Ustinov’s tenure as Chancellor of the University and the college became Ustinov College.

In 2005, Zu’bi Al-Zu’bi, President of the GCR, coined the college motto: Diversitate Valemus. Translated as ‘diversity is our strength’, it is a fitting tribute to students that have called Ustinov home during their time studying in Durham! In 2017, Ustinov College moved to its current Sheraton Park site near Neville’s Cross, where it accommodates approximately 440 students with over 90 nationalities represented within its wider college membership of 1,400 – 1,700 post-graduate and PhD students. Today the College strives to be a safe, motivating and enjoyable environment that nurtures global citizenship, enables College members to grow intellectually and socially, and facilitates the development of an enduring and mutually rewarding relationship with the College, University and people and communities of North East England.

Our 60th anniversary

The celebrations for our 60th anniversary began in March with a special Formal held at our former home in Howlands, beautifully decorated in the colours of Ustinov crests—both old and new. This summer, the celebrations continue with a curated series of events across a full weekend in July. Students past and present, staff, the wider postgraduate community, and their families are warmly invited to join us.
The weekend begins with a formal dinner in the Great Hall of Durham Castle—a fitting setting to reflect on our shared history and look ahead to the future. On Saturday, we celebrate Ustinov Day, our annual College Day organised by the Graduate Common Room. Expect a joyful day of great food, music, sport, amusement rides, dancing, and plenty of other treats. Then on Sunday, we return to our current home at Sheraton Park for a relaxed afternoon tea and a history walk. The history walk will take us through former College locations including Howlands, Shincliffe Hall, and Old Elvet—connecting our roots to where we are now.
The weekend will conclude with the unveiling of a new 60th Anniversary Sculpture design, which will become the centrepiece of the Sculpture Garden at Sheraton Park—a lasting tribute to six decades of community, change, and connection.